In reply to Calisaren (msg # 20):

Shard frowned as he listened to the Windling.  While he understood most of what she said, a bit he let slip by because he didn't care too much about why many in the village didn't have the capability to become an 'adept'.  Not all stones were good for foundry work just as not all trees were meant to be fruit trees.  Such was life and best to get over any fault of the stone or tree to save yourself headache and get to what can be done with the assets on hand.

Shard rubbing his chin thinks for a second then asks, "What apprenticeship do you offer and to whom?  Do you have a magic eight ball that will tell us what is best or what magic may be brewing inside us?  How long will you be here and will it be enough to finish what you start?  What I mean is, how long will training take?  My father won't be happy if I am not around to do my chores, so will take some explaining to him and he'll want to know how long I'll be away." he asks pateintly.

Peck grimaces in sympathy with the dwarf, the moreso as Kerric's absence is only too easily explained in similar terms. "I am lucky," he tells Shard, "my father is wary, but sympathetic, even if that tolerance will only stretch so far."

"But though I've only scratched the surface of what Kira is trying to show me, I think ... feel, that this is important, perhaps the most important thing I will ever do. For all I love my parents dearly, I will risk disappointing them to make the attempt."

In reply to Peck Murtagh (msg # 22):

Shard nods silently as he studied Peck.  He had known of Peck, but had never really spent a lot of time with him, however of all the children, it was likely safe to say he felt the most kinship with him, or rather his profession.  As the son of a Blacksmith, he worked with the earth just as Shard did.  "Perhaps my father will be as wise as yours and agree to the training giving me the time I need, we will see." he offers shrugging.

"I spoke to my father.  I told him about meeting you yesterday, and that you want to teach me, and he didn't object to me coming to learn."  Of course, had she told Jander what she would be learning, he might have expressed a little more doubt.

Which was, of course, why she had told him everything he needed to know to make the right decision.

Ariadne kept completely silent, a very uncharacteristic trait for her, and smiled deviously.
Her mind quickly went to basket where she kept her secret.

"I'm eager to continue," Opluriko chimed in, feeling that she should, but not really knowing what to say.

Still attempting to sink down into the nonexistent hole in the ground, Anora remained silent and merely watched and listen, trying her best to keep up and understand what was happening so that she would not disappoint someone somehow, even though she was not really certain what was really going on.

Did they say she was special, and not the way the bullies did?  She did not feel special in either way, other than being too tall, which perhaps was special in one way, but neither of those two other ways.  She felt a bit dizzy and remained silent.

Shard nods and looks back to the strangers "Whats the agenda?  Do we break into separate groups or we doing a large classroom?  The sun is up, lets get to it." he offers frowning wanting to get to the training so he could get back to work.  He had tasks assigned to him by his father and the instructors seemed to be dragging their feet.  If something needed to be done, it helped not at all to wait and complain about the deed, however much one may not want to do the task.

Ariadne was more or less jumping in her chair.
Her eagerness to find out more about the newcomers made her struggle to contaminate the huge amount of energy and curiosity that had been building up inside her.
If Peck had been sitting in front of her he would most likely have been slapped for his impertinence.
Instead she contemplated volunteering him to babysit her sisters at a later point.
Contemplated was perhaps the wrong word as it indicates spending time on the subject.
Ariadne had already moved on to shifting her gaze between everybody in the room and trying to stare down the villagers looking into the room.

Oblivious to Ariadne's barely contained enthusiasm, Peck grins broadly at Shard's Dwarvish directness, though with a certain wistfulness as he missed having Kerric by his side. "They are as eager to teach as we are to learn, though they need to know more about us ... you," he bluntly amends his statement realising that Shard will better appreciate blunt words than those diplomatically couched.

"For me, the learning is an ... extension of what I already do, what I love to do," the blacksmith's son's lips purse as he ponders this revelation.  "Working with steel, shaping it."

He looks to Kira, hoping she can explain matters better than he.

Shard looks to Peck and listen nodding when he finished.  Looking back to the strangers, he continues, "Very well, bring out your magic, ask your questions, we turn to dust and rust unless we have motion.  As the river must flow, as the air sings and the earth moves in its own way, so must we.  Ask what you will." he growls determinately.

"What!? But... But... But...
Does that mean we have to sit in here... all day!?
Let's get outside and do something!!!"
Someone was clearly in a hurry

Kira smiles and walks over to Peck.  "Well, we'll try not to disappoint him," she says.  "He might be upset for a bit that it's not coming from him, I don't know 'im, but `disappointing' is definitely not the end I'm going for."

Jenette gives Yona a smile that suggests she's caught that subtle difference that lies between not-objecting and informed-consent, and gives the girl an approving nod. 

Llewendan stands up in a languid motion, walking up to Opluriko.  "Eager to meet us, eager to begin, eager to continue," he says, softly.  He reaches out and cups her chin briefly, looking into her eyes, tilting his head this way and then that.  "No, the timid mouseling is not your path.  Tell me, do you prefer to stalk or pounce?"

  Tralistaire laughs in response to Shard's questions.  "The sun is indeed.  Individual instruction is usually the best beginning, although I'm sure we'll sort out some group exercises in time.  I think you have answered my question and my hope - the elements are part and parcel to your being, and I do believe I can expand your understanding of them.  Help you learn to shape the air, water, even fire, as you already do stone."

And Flechette, with a smirk, stalks up to Ariadne.  "You brought my dagger," she says - a statement, not a question.  "I'm not an easy teacher - and no," she curls her lip up in a smile, "You won't learn much just sitting there.  When I'm done with you, you'll be on your way to being the best.  But once you agree, you're my student 'til I say you're not.  Agreed?"

Calisaren walks over to Anora, though, and looks up at her thoughtfully.  "You remain an enigma," she says.  "I see that it is uncomfortable for you.  If you prefer, we may speak in private.  But as Peck says, I must know more about you."

Although s/he did not flinch from Llewendan's had and he cupped her chin, Opluriko resisted for a brief moment, unaccustomed to such forwardness. But then s/he let him tilt her head around - after yesterday, s/he did trust him, after all. "Hm, neither of those words are what I would choose to describe myself. Both imply a certain... stealth... and predatory intent. I guess of those choices, I would say stalking, I guess, as it implies a certain amount of activity, but really, I would say more..." S/he paused as s/he considered how to articulate herself, "More active and exploratory - I'd compare myself more to a squirrel that scampers and pokes its nose in things than to a feline that pounces or a canine that stalks."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:59, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

Seeing Calisaren - it was good to finally have a name for her - approach, Anora wished she was as small and winged so that she could fly up and hide somewhere in the ceiling.  At least the others seemed busy with others, so she was not being in the absolute centre of things.

Even so, she felt as if she had done something wrong.  Perhaps she had not said enough at her introduction, or perhaps she had made another error.

"Sorry, Mistress Calisaren," she said apologetically and managed to look even lower than the Windling, while red roses bloomed on her cheeks.

She cleared her throat and briefly lifted her gaze to meet that of Calisaren.

"I'll do my best, but perhaps you've the wrong person, I'm no one, just the child of a garbage collector," she said with slightly stronger voice, "Perhaps one of my brothers?  We're so many confusion even happens for our parents."

She glanced around nervously, hoping no one paid any attention to her as she potentially offended the Windling by the brass statement that she may have been mistaken.

"Here," she said and dugs into her secret pocket for the golden treasure she had been given.  Surely it was merely used as a sign of that she was the one Calisaren had met, and not for keep.  She held it out towards the Windling in an open palm, biting her lower lip apprehensively.

In reply to Vestrial (msg # 33):



Shard listening nods slowly, "How would one shape water or fire?  I do not think you mean by torch, lantern or campfire nor by freezing water into ice or slush, do you?  Magic?  I have heard of the old ways, but they were lost.  You seemed to indicated that you are an Adept and that we have the potential to become an Adept." Shard continued as mater of fact as he put the pieces together.

"I have heard the songs and the stories of those old Adepts and how they could weave magic.  I know Peck is the son of the blacksmith.  He works with metal as I work with stone.  I have heard of Weaponsmiths in the songs, but I don't think this is my calling but since you are not working with Peck, I don't think that is yours either.  I accept your invitation and look forward to what you have to teach.  My father may be disappointed if I miss some chores, but I feel he will be very proud if I can master this new magic over fire, water, earth and air that you offer."

Ariadne nodded.
Slowly at first, but quickly gaining speed as the smile grew on her face.
Her enthusiasm was hard to hide.

The Dagger also emerged from her basket and was cordially presented to Flechette with both hands.

Without another word, Yona stands and, leaning heavily on her stick, hobbles outside.  Once there, she finds a place to take the weight off her feet, off to one side of the door, and a short distance from the building.

Just far enough that it would be difficult for those inside to hear what's being said, without being so close to the passer's-by that they can hear it.  Not much she can do about the windows, but she's less concerned about people seeing than she is about them listening.

She sits and waits, doing her utmost to look disinterested in what goes on inside.

The blacksmith's son listens on with interest to Shard's analysis, fascinated by the dwarf's mention of the old stories ... which quickly turn to confusion as he speaks of Weaponsmiths and the inference that Peck is set upon that path.

Confusion ... and, well, fear.

But as the implications of that flit back and forth in his mind, those emotions slowly give way to resolve, outwardly manifested by a set of his jaw.

Llewendan looks slightly perplexed at Opluriko's answer.  "A squirrel?" he asks.  "Ah, the little ones.  Yes, I can see that.  Can you take me to one?"

Calisaren smiles as the coin is offered back to her.  "Certainly not a Thief, then," she says, glancing back.  Realizing that Jenette isn't where she was standing a moment ago, she shrugs and turns back to Anora.  "Keep it; it was a gift.  Actually, I am curious about one or two of your brothers, but I'll need to watch a little longer to be sure... but no, I don't think that you're a mistake."

Kira nods.  "You're certainly not no one," she asserts.  "You've already said you're Anora Sawtvest; can't take it back now."

Calisaren smiles a bit, but waves the Ork back.  "Tell me," she suggests, pointing at the coin, "What is that?"  She meets Anora's eyes as she asks the seemingly simple question.

Tralistaire, meanwhile, is nodding to Shard.  "You guess well and wisely.  And `weaving' is an excellent word for what we do, and also starts with a double-u.  As I believe I mentioned last night, I am what is called an Elementalist.  It's a simpler path than some - more intuitive, I find - but no less effective for that.  But to master it, we will need to draw you away from your beloved stone... not far away, of course, just enough.  It is all too easy to set upon a single path, and close doors without ever seeing them."

Flechette takes her dagger back, casually dropping it, point down, into its boot sheath.  "Thanks.  So now," she asks Ariadne, reaching over to her pack and picking up her flail, "What do you have to defend yourself with?"


Outside, Yona looks casual for several quiet minutes before she hears Jenette's voice, lower down but from the other side of the same post she's leaning against.  "That one," she says.  Looking down, Yona sees the jewel-bedecked Dwarf nod out towards someone walking past; she recognizes Kerric's father, whose Name she can't quite remember.  Starts with an `L', much too important to introduce himself to farmers.  He's walking past in a very officious, too-busy-to-stop-and-chat sort of way, but there's also something fairly deliberate to his overall arc.  It would be an easy bet to say that he's going past here because he wants to make sure Kerric isn't.  Jenette, though, goes on quietly, "Seems to have more than he needs, doesn't he?"

"Sure!" Opluriko replied. She hadn't brought a horse this morning, but she was quite use to using her own two feet just as well. She didn't really mean to start running, but she was excited, and her pace kept quickening. "You can swim, right?" She had just the squirrels in mind. On the other side of the river (she knew the other side much better, after all), near the horse pastures, was a giant oak tree. While the first section was difficult to climb, if you could leap, or if you had a horse under you who you could use as a sort of ladder, the branches above were large and spread out, so that even someone not that great at climbing could move around reasonably easily, if they could get up. From there one could watch the pastures with all of the beasts within, or face the other direction, and enjoy the forest. On the higher branches there were at least two squirrel nests - the old oak provided plenty for two families - and she spent enough time up there - or was it that she just related well enough to them? That they were rather unafraid of her, and sometimes she enjoyed seeing how long it would take before one of them would take food from her hand.

The quickest way was to just swim across the river - but the bridge wasn't really that far out of the way. But if Llewendan could swim, then why not get there to start that much quicker?

Shard nods, "The name Elementalist implies something of a master of the elements, I'm fine with learning of the others, for it takes both heat, pressure, cooling and often times water and time to make a stone what it is.  The wind and water will smooth a rock or given enough time, carve it to what it is today.  Led on Tralistaire, I will follow."

"I wish I had known.
After last weeks incident father did tell me not to wield weapons...
In fact; he said that now I'm reaching that age where he will consider telling the boys he is carrying weapons.
Anyway, I'll have to improvise..."

Ariadne walked up to the blackboard and took the long staff used by the teacher on occasion when explaining stuff like levers, measurements or physical education.
That staff was now for all intends and purposes a quarterstaff in Ariadnes hands.

"I'll bring something better tomorrow"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:10, Wed 16 Oct 2013.

"More than he needs, yes, and more than he thinks he needs, but never more than he wants." Yona agrees, amiably, and just as quietly as Jenette.  In her opinion, now she thinks about it (or, rather, now that Jenette has made her think about it) the Dwarf probably has more than the whole village needs.

"Then there are people like Anora... you know, the tall girl... if she had a fourth of what she needs she'd think she was rich.  Or even a sixth."

Anora is dismissed from Yona's mind almost as quickly as she had come into it.

"He's got so much on him, it's a wonder he can walk."  The Dwarf is back, occupying her thoughts, "And a bigger wonder that he can walk without dropping something.  You see the silver pin in his hat?  The one with the blue stone?  That's fastened in place with a sort of clip that's really badly made - I got a good look at it one day - and it's a wonder it doesn't just fall out."

"No, not a thief," Anora said quietly and smiled, albeit briefly, as the offer was refused.  But the smile faded as Calisaren spoke of her brothers.  As her gaze dropped she realised it would not be a surprise if indeed she was not the one, she never had been, other than for some of the bullies.

However, as the words from the Windling and the Orc reached she felt hope soar anew, and she looked up on them with another, somewhat braver smile.

The question posed by Calisaren then morphed Anora's expression into one of puzzlement.  Looking at the coin she pondered what answer might be expected from her.  No doubt it was another test, but how to pass it she had no idea.

"It's...  It's food for my family," she said, turnign the coin over in her hand and pondering how to best answer.  "Best give it to mum, dad'd think I've stolen it."  She realised she had said the last part out loud and promptly blushed, giving the Windling a shy glance.  "I..I..I mean...  Uh..."